STORY: Sisi, Blinken meet amid Gaza ceasefire efforts
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 20, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 21, 2024
LENGTH: 00:00:56
LOCATION: NEW ALAMEIN, Egypt
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of al-Sisi meeting with Blinken (source: Egyptian Presidency)
2. various of Egyptian Presidency's headquarters
3. various of Cairo

STORYLINE:

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi met with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday in Egypt's coastal city of New Alamein, where they discussed joint efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire deal.

Sisi and Blinken discussed "the joint Egyptian-American-Qatari mediation efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and exchange detainees," the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

They also exchanged views on the results of the latest negotiations held last week in Doha and ways to achieve progress in the ongoing negotiations in Cairo, the statement said.

Sisi stressed that "the time has come to end the ongoing war, resort to the voice of reason and wisdom, and uphold the language of peace and diplomacy," according to the statement.

The president also warned against the grave danger of the conflict expanding regionally, with potentially catastrophic consequences, the statement said.

For his part, Blinken briefed Sisi on the outcome of his visit to Israel, "stressing the U.S.'s commitment to calming the situation and reaching an agreement," the statement said.

The U.S. diplomat also expressed appreciation for Egypt's role and "constructive efforts" in this regard, the statement added.

Egypt is the second leg of Blinken's ninth tour of the Middle East since the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over 10 months ago. The tour is widely seen as part of Washington's diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

In Israel, the first leg of his trip, Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Following their meeting, the U.S. diplomat said Netanyahu "confirmed that Israel approves" the new U.S.-backed bridging proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.

Blinken also has a stop planned in Qatar.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from New Alamein, Egypt.
(XHTV)